Is DOGE Dead? Think Again!

Elon Musk may be focusing on his other ventures, and some folks are saying DOGE is done for, but hold on! DOGE represents a crucial challenge to the way Washington loves to spend our money.

The Spending Problem Isn't Small

Let's be clear: DOGE alone can't magically slash trillions in spending. Congress controls the purse strings, approving a whopping $1.8 trillion in discretionary spending annually, on top of the $5 trillion in entitlements and interest. Massive cuts require Congressional action.

More Than Just a Number

Musk's talk of a $2 trillion cut wasn't about just finding a number, it was about identifying wasteful spending. But this is not DOGE's singular contribution. Senator Rand Paul's annual Festivus report spotlights waste, and Senator William Proxmire did the same with his Golden Fleece awards.

DOGE's Secret Weapon: AI!

DOGE's real power lies in two key areas. First, it is using AI to track all the ways our money is being misspent. The sheer size of the Federal government makes this an almost impossible task for regular folks.

Leveling the Playing Field

AI analysis of Federal databases puts the power of information back in our hands, challenging the "deep state" bureaucrats. This gives fiscal conservatives like Senator Paul and Representative Massie a serious new weapon in the fight for fiscal responsibility.

The Political Game of Spending

To understand if anything will actually change, we have to look at the political forces that encourage spending. It's all about the political equilibrium – the balance between those who favor and oppose spending.

Spending = Support

Politicians get votes and campaign cash by spending money. People love "free stuff," and Congress is happy to play Santa Claus... with our money!

Taxes vs. Spending: A Lose-Lose Situation?

Nobody likes taxes, so raising them creates political backlash. Politicians prefer to spend without taxing, which threatens our financial stability. Look at the state bankruptcies of the 1830s or city bankruptcies after the Civil War.

Winners and Losers

Spending benefits a small, targeted group who clearly see the benefits (think Social Security recipients). Taxes, on the other hand, hit a broad range of people and businesses. Figuring out who actually pays those business taxes is even trickier.

The Allure of Spending

Spending $1 million gets politicians more political gain than $1 million in taxes costs them politically. Plus, spending can benefit politicians and their families directly. This makes them even less interested in cutting back!

Disrupting the Equilibrium

We need to disrupt the current system to take back control of our spending. How? There's no easy answer. Javier Milei in Argentina has shown dramatic action can work, and DOGE's unconventional approach has had some success.

DOGE's Impact So Far

USAID and parts of the Department of Education have seen major cuts. Seventy-five thousand Federal employees took DOGE's buyout, and thousands of probationary workers were let go. Reports say DOGE has cut $160 billion (though Congress or the courts could restore it). These cuts hit programs that progressives use to push their agenda.

Targeting Progressive Agendas

For example, grants to progressive NGOs funded lawsuits that blocked new factories and pushed progressive cultural values. Universities used overhead charges on NIH research grants to fund "woke" administrators.

The Path Forward: Recission Bills & Refunds!

Going forward, DOGE should prepare annual recission bills for Congress, which ultimately decides on spending cuts. Returning some of those savings (maybe 20%) to taxpayers as refunds would generate new support for spending cuts. While deficit reduction is key, combining spending cuts with refunds is a powerful strategy.

Time to Disrupt!

Uncle Sam spends $7 trillion and owes over $36 trillion because politics rewards spending, not fiscal responsibility. Musk and DOGE deserve serious credit for trying to shake things up and disrupt Washington's spending addiction.